Bobby pin dispenser and hair curler



y 6, 1952 A. FlLAK 2,596,017

BOBBY PIN DISPENSER AND HAIR CURLER Filed D96. 23, 1948 2 SHEET SSHEET l %m% an? 292 042 May 6, 1952 A. FILAK BOBBY PIN DISPENSER AND HAIR CURLER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1948 Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOBBY PIN DISPENSER. AND HAIR CURLER Claims.

This invention relates to a novel article of manufacture and more especially to an article useful in the home and in beauty parlors for dispensing bobby pins and curling hair.

As is well known, bobby pins are extensively used by ladies in putting up their hair, for example, in making finger. curls. Before a bobby pin can be used it must be opened. This is customarily done by many persons by placing the bobby pins in their mouths and using their teeth for the purpose. Besides being unsanitary this method is dangerous, as damage to the teeth and mucous membrane of the mouth often results. This problem is all the more acute in beauty parlors where the operators handle very large numbers of bobby pins and consequently the chances of infection and injury are greater. Furthermore, the bobby pins are sold in packages, that is to say they do not come in any prearranged condition; hence valuable time is lost in picking up and arranging each bobby pin prior to use. As will be appreciated by those familiar with the operations involved, it would be highly desirable if the necessity of milady and beauty parlor operators to handle bobby pins during the hair curling operation could be avoided.

While I am aware that a number of suggestions have been made to provide bobby pin dispensers and various hair curling devices, so far as I have been able to ascertain no device combining the two functions, namely, dispensing bobby pins and hair curling, has heretofore been disclosed.

By my present invention I provide such a combination device or article of manufacture. It is simple in construction, compact in size and emcient in operation as a result of its convenient;

size and shape and method of operation. It is a relatively simple task by means of the device of my invention for a lady to dress her hair without danger to the mouth or teeth, with a saving of time, with a saving of energy, and with eX- cellent results from the point of view of the finished hair. If desired, a retractable comb and brush may be provided so as to result in a substantially complete hair dressing article.

Additional features of my invention could be Fig. 2 is a part sectional view taken along the line 22 in Fig. 3, with part of the casing being broken away to expose the parts;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the device shown in Fig. l but with the parts in positions shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 before the hair has been wound on the mandrel;

Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view looking into the end of themandrel showing one form of closure means for the entrance slot in the mandrel;

. Fig. 8 is a similar View of a modified form of the closure means for the entrance slot of the mandrel;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a modified form of the mandrel incorporating a cylindrical central cylinder which together with the hollow mandrel proper forms a raceway for the bobby pin;

Figs. 10 and 11 are front and top views, respectively, of a modified form of my invention in which the feeding chamber is entirely without arcuate construction and feeds horizontally into the slot in the hollow mandrel;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the removable plate around which the bobby pins are attached; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged end view of the actuator for the clip and bobby pin spreader showing the rod secured to the actuator slotted so as to clear the shaft of the mandrel.

Referring to the drawings, my novel device I has a casing 2 for the magazine 3 of my bobby pin dispenser and hair curler. A hollow mandrel 4 having a shaft 5 is housed in bearing 6 which forms part of the casing 2.

A removable plate 1 having a hook 8 near its lower end to facilitate removal and insertion is carried within the casing 2. In a preferred embodiment of my device, for example, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, '5 and 6 the plate has an arcuate top portion 9.

The plate I rests upon a channel In carried by the casing 2. The casing 2 also houses spring urging means, comprising springs II and inverted channel members l2 upon which the bobby pins l3 may be placed. A pin l4 passes laterally between each of the inverted channel members 12 and terminates at either end with a screw cap l5, that is, with a screw cap which can be adjusted so as to permit or to prevent upward or downward movement of the spring urging means, depending on whether the cap I5 loosely or tightly engages both sides of casing 2. The screw caps I5 are somewhat larger than the slots I6 in the front and rear of the casing 2.

Rotatably attached to the casing 2 is a bobby pin spreader II so disposed and shaped that it fits within the looped end I8 of a closed bobby pin. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the spreader I'I rotates in a vertical plane. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10 the spreader I'I rotates in a horizontal plane.

The actuating means for spreading or opening the bobby pins I3 comprise a push button I9 rigidly attached on its under side to a rod which is slotted (Fig. 13) as at 2I so as to clear the shaft 5 of the mandrel 4. A flange 22 is secured to the lower end of the slotted rod 20 and another rod '23 is secured to the lower end of the flange 22. The lower end of the rod 23 is connected to a bell crank 24 which is pivoted at 25. The bell crank 24 is connected by means of a pin 26 to one end of a connecting rod 28 which at its other end 29 engages an arm 30 rigidly attached to one side of the spreader II.

A clip 3I is hingeably attached to the mandrel 4 as shown in Fig. 2. One end of the clip 3| extends under part of the button I9 so that the latter engages this end of the clip 3I when the button I9 is pressed downward.

The mandrel 4 is provided with a slot;32 for the entry of the bobby pin 52, that is to say, the entry of the upper arm 33 of the uppermost bobby pin 52. The slot closing means may take different forms as shown, for example, in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In Fig. 7 a resilient spring 34 is attached at one of its ends 35 longitudinally along the mandrel 4 near the slot 32 of the mandrel and on one side thereof. In Fig. 8 movable gates 36 are hingeably mounted on either side of the slot 32 and spring means 31 are provided to keep the gates 36 in closed position normally; that is, when no pressure is exerted by the bobby pin to be inserted the gates are in normal or closed position. In Fig. 9 slot closing means similar to those of Fig. 7 are provided but the mandrel 4 also has a cylinder 38 which together with the mandrel 4 forms a channel 39 between the cylinder 38 and the mandrel 4 and this channel 39 acts as a raceway for the bobby pin 52 during the rotation of the mandrel 4.

The means for rotating the mandrel will now be described. A pinion 40 is loosely mounted on one end 4| of the shaft 5 of the mandrel 4. The pinion 40 has outer spur teeth 42 and inner irregular teeth 43, for example, as shown in Fig. 6. A vertical rack 44 engages with the spur teeth 42 of the pinion 40. The rack 44 carries at its lower end a serrated button 45 which is in contact with a spring 46 contained in the well 41 formed by part of the casing 2. A cap member 48 is secured to the free end of the mandrel shaft 5. Between the free end of the mandrel shaft 5 and the cap member 48 is pivotally secured a pawl 49 which is so shaped as to engage the inner teeth 43 of the pinion 45 when the mandrel is moving in the desired direction but to permit the inner teeth 43 of the pinion 40 to slide'over the pawl 49 without engagement thereby when the pinion 40 is moving in the opposite direction from that during which the pawl 49 is operatively engaged thereby.

As aforesaid, if desired, alternative forms of construction embodying the principle of my inremoved from the casing 2. bobby pins I3 are in any event inserted in place around the plate I. (See Fig. 2.) The spring urging means cause pressure to be exerted upward against the bobby pins. In view of the construction of the spring urging means the pressure on each of the arms of the bobby pins is substantially uniform. Considering now the embodiment of my invention wherein an arcuate top portion 9 of the plate I is provided, the bobby pins I3 will be pushed upward until the topmost bobby pin 52 rests substantially in a vertical plane, as shown for example in Figs. 1 and 2.

By pushing the serrated button 45 up and down the slot 32 of the mandrel 4 will be placed in position directly above the top bobby pin 52. Reference to the drawings, in particular to Fig. 6, and the above description will show that the mandrel 4 can only move in one direction, namely, the clockwise direction when viewed from the open end of the mandrel-4, and further that fine adjustment of the amount of movement of the mandrel 4 can be obtained with the hereinprovided rack and pinion means.

With the upper arm of the top bobby pin 52 in position directly under the slot 32 of the mandrel 4 the push button I9 is then pressed downwardly. As a result the slotted rod 20 (see Fig. 13) clears the shaft 5 of the mandrel 4 and carries the integral unit comprising the flange 22 and rod 23 in a downward direction. This causes the bell crank 24 to move in a downward direction around the pivot 25 thereby causing the end of the connectin rod 28 attached to the bell crank 24 to move in a general upward direction and this general upward direction of the connecting rod 28 is translated to the arm 30 of the spreader I1 and in turn the spreader II itself is forced in an upward direction.

As previously described, the arm 38: which is attached to the spreader II is to one side thereof and consequently the connecting rod 28 clears the lower arm of the top bobby pin 52 and is free to act on the spreader II. The spreader I! in moving in an upward direction causes the upper arm 33 of the bobby pin 52 to open up and bear against the slot 32 of the mandrel 4 which as aforesaid may take different forms as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The force exerted by the spreader I! on the upper arm 33 .of the bobby pin 52 is sufiiciently great to force the resilient spring 34 of Figs. 7' and 9 or the springably and hingeably attached gates 36 ofFig. 8 to open in order to permit the entry of the upper arm 33 of the bobby pin 52.

At the same time that the button I9 is pushed down to permit the entry of the bobby pin 52 into the hollow part of the mandrel 4 the user of my device places the mandrel 4 adjacent to the hair to be curled and the hair is led between the clip 3| and the mandrel 4 as the clip is actuated so as to be in open position when the button I9 is pushed down. After the hair has been inserted between the clip and the mandrel the button I9 is released thereby securing the ends of the hair to be curled between the clip 3| and the mandrel 4.

The operation of curling the hair around th mandrel 4, over the clip 3|, and between the bobby pin 52 is a simple one and is done merely by pushing the serrated button 45 downward enough times so as to permit the proper length of hair to be wound around the mandrel 4. In this connection, it is again noted that the construction of my device lends itself to fine adjustment of the amount of mandrel motion and consequently my device can be efficiently and simply operated to curl varying lengths of hair with equal facility.

When sufiicient hair has been wound around the mandrel 4, as for example as shown in Fig. 1, my novel bobby pin dispenser and hair curler may be easily removed from the hair so as to leave a hobby pin in contact with the hair to be curled simply by moving the apparatus in the direction shown by the lower arrow (Fig. 1). This operation will be further simplified by the operator holding the hair to prevent it from moving in the direction of the arrow. After re moval of the novel device of my invention the bobby pin is in the desired relation to the hair to be curled.

If it is desired to dress the hair prior to or subsequent to or independent of the aforementioned hair curling operation this can be done by simpl moving the knobs 53 and 54 along the slot 55, in order to expose the comb 50 or brush 5|, respectively.

When the embodiment depicted in Figs. and 11 is employed it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the essential construction and arrangement of all of the parts are the same as described for the device of Figs. 1 and 2 except as modified in detail to permit the horizontal entry or motion of the topmost bobby pin.

While the invention has been described in detail as to construction and arrangement of parts, it is understood that some modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and hence no limitations are intended other than those proposed by the scope of the appended claims construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A novel article of manufacture, which comprises, in combination, means for dispensing bobby pins, said means comprising a plate for holding bobby pins in regular alignment, spring urging means located on both sides and near the bottom of said plate for moving the hobby pins along said plate, and spreading means located adjacent the top of said plate for opening the hobby pins, and other means for curlinghair with the aid of the bobby pins, said other means comprising a hollow mandrel with a longitudinal slot therein, said mandrel having its longitudinal axis parallel to the top of said plate and being located adjacent the top of said plate and said spreading means so that the slot is suitable for the entry of an arm of a bobby pin after it has been opened by said spreading means, a clip carried by said mandrel, means to open said clip and actuate said spreading means, and means to rotate said mandrel to a predetermined extent, said last means comprising rack and pinion means for actuating the motion of the mandrel in one direction.

2. A novel article of manufacture, which coinprises, in combination, means for dispensing bobby pins, said means comprising a plate for holding bobby pins in regular alignment, spring urging means located on both sides and near the bottom of said plate for moving the bobby pins along said plate, and spreading means located adjacent the top of said plate for opening the bobby pins, and other means for curling hair with the aid of said bobby pins, said other means comprising a hollow mandrel with a longitudinal slot therein, said mandrel having its longitudinal axis parallel to the top of said plate and being located adjacent the top of said plate and said spreading means so that the slot is suitable for the entry of an arm of a bobby pin after it has been opened by said spreading means, a clip carried by said mandrel, means to open said clip and actuate said spreading means, and means to rotate said mandrel to a predetermined extent.

3. A novel article of manufacture, which comprises, in combination, means for dispensing bobby pins, said means comprising a plate for holding bobby pins in regular alignment, spring urging meanslocated on both sides and near the bottom of said plate for moving the bobby pins along said plate and spreading means located adjacent the top of said plate for opening the bobby pins, and other means for curling hair with the aid of said bobby pins, said other means comp-rising a hollow mandrel with a longitudinal slot therein, said mandrel having its longitudinal axis parallel to the top of said plate and being located adjacent the top of said plate and said spreading means so that the slot is suitable for the entry of an arm of a bobby pin after it has been opened by said spreadingmeans, a clip carried by said mandrel, and means to rotate said mandrel to a predetermined extent.

4. A novel article of manufacture, which comprises, in combination, means for dispensing bobby pins, said means comprising plate means for holding bobby pins in regular alignment, spring urging means located on both sides and near the bottom of said plate means for moving the bobby pins and spreading means located adjacent the top of said plate means for opening the bobby pins and other means for curling hair with the aid of the bobby pins, said other :means comprising a hollow mandrel with a longitudinal slot therein, said mandrel having its longitudinal axis parallel to the top of said plate and beinglocated adjacent the top of said plate and said spreading means so that the slot is suitable for the entry of an arm of a bobby pin after it has been opened by said spreading means, a clip carried by said mandrel and means to rotate said mandrel to a predetermined extent.

5. A novel article of manufacture, which comprises, in combination, means for dispensing bobby pins, said means comprising a plate for holding bobby pins in regular alignment, spring urging means located on both sides and near the bottom of said plate for moving the bobby pins along said plate, and spreading means located adjacent the top of said plate for opening the hobby pins, said spreading means comprising a rotatable spreader member, a connectingrod attached to said spreader member, a bell crank pivotally connected with said connecting rod, pusher means having a slotted shaft integral therewith and co-operating with said bell crank, and other means for curling hair, said other means comprising a hollow mandrel with a longitudinal slot therein, said mandrel having its longitudinal axis parallel to the top of said plate and being located adjacent the top of said plate and said 2,596,017 7 8 spreading means so that the slot is suitable for the entry of an arm of a bobby pin after it has REFERENCES CITED been opened by aid spreading means, a clip The following references are of record in the ried by said mandrel, means to open said clip and file of 131115 Pall/em! actuate said spreading means, and means to ro- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tate said mandrel to a predetermined extent, said Number Name Date last means compr1s1ng a rack and p nion means 2,159,131 Bums May 23, 1939 for actuating the motion of the mandrel in one direction. 2,226,351 Spreckels Dec. 24, 1940 ARTHUR FILAK. l0 

